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How GM Lost Its Sales Crown to Toyota

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Bill C. Apr 3, 2009 2:51 AM GMT A simpler way to tell the story.Everytime GM management made a choice it was wrong.They could not accept this as fact so they ignored it.Now the customers are gone and the money has run out.Now the very villians who oversaw this , want/expect someone else to clean it up while they keep their postions and salaries. Psst..GM , , look behind the curtain, their is no Wizzard their to make it all go away.
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PC Jan 27, 2009 8:44 PM GMT The key here is whether the management is encouraged to make decision for the long term benefit despite of short term penalties, and vice versa. That is the most important factor driving these "mistakes" in the past. Unfortunately the same structures are still there, therefore, we might see executives (not only in GM, in other US companies as well) working hard putting out fires, it doesn't address the foundamental problems in these companies.
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j33 Jan 27, 2009 7:42 PM GMT Last year the United States imported 7,160,096 passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles had an import tax of 2-1/2% and some were tax free. Average United States tax collected on these imported vehicles, $275.00 each. By comparison $5,000.00 of a United States built Malibus sticker price of $20,000.00 goes for taxes. So here in our home market General Motors has a price disadvantage of $4,725.00 per passenger vehicle.The free traders in our Congress passed these trade agreements. Now these free traders seem to be shocked that our automobile assembly plant has been shut down.There is nothing you can do in the long run to save General Motors as long as these goofy, lopsided trade agreements are in effect.
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jk Jan 27, 2009 7:06 PM GMT Ah I see Mr. Szydlowski answered my question. thank you
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jk Jan 27, 2009 7:04 PM GMT Doesn't Toyota also count all the cars that they sell in Japan??? I don't think GM can sell any cars to Japan. It is my understanding that they make it almost impossible, cost wise, to import vehicles to their country. Sounds like it's a good way of protecting their country from what is happening in this country.
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Bob Szydlowski Jan 27, 2009 6:58 PM GMT All of Welch's comments are right on and yet if vehicle sales in Japan, where non-tariff trade barriers established by the Japanese government virtually exclude GM from the market, were not included in total sales, GM would still be the world leader. Toyota sells millions of vehicles in Japan while GM is limited to under 10,000 annually.
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Archie Jan 27, 2009 6:51 PM GMT Quality is still a problem. My power window mechanism failed me and had to be replaced. Cost: $760.00 seems it's a common problem because after market parts are readily available. I have a '02 Silverado.
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Carol Cain Jan 26, 2009 11:31 PM GMT Oh! HOW SAD AND HURT I TRULY FEEL, I FEEL AS THOUGH MY BEST FRIEND DIE AND I SAW IT COMING AND COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HOPE GM WILL GET A GOOD SPIRIT FROM THE DEATH OF IT'S REIGN AND BLOSSOM IN THE GREAT AMERICAN COMPANY IT ONCE WAS. I WAS THING, WHY ARE ALL CAR LOOKING THE SAME, THERE IS NO DISTINGUISHING LOOKS TO ALL THE CARS THAT ARE BEING MADE THESE DAY. I RECALL THE DAYS WHEN YOU COULD LOOK AT A CAR FROM A DISTANCE AND KNOW WHO'S THE CREATOR OF THAT VEHICLE. TODAY YOU NEED TO SEE THE NAME ON THE VEHICLE TO KNOW WHO'S CAR IT IS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GM TO LEAD THE WAY IN INDIVIDUALITY OF THE AUTOMOBILE ONCE MORE.
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uhoothegossip Jan 26, 2009 9:54 PM GMT Problem started when profits became more important than "build a great car". Management would settle grievences based on money rather than good long term principles.... they lost control of their factories to unions and other folks who ony saw :what do I get"!
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Toby Reichart Jan 26, 2009 7:21 PM GMT You could also point out that the workers and unions are to blame Can you really justify paying workers 40-50 an hour with full benefits to put fenders on cars ITS A CAR Service dept.that charge 175 an hour for an oil change Let them fall someone else will build a car here Americans work hard and this will be taken advantage of by some car manufacture
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